Headphone and Sound Card/or DAC Recommendations?

[Kenneth_0077]

I have become increasingly more criticizing of my audio quality ever since watching my first video of LinusTechTips. I would love to be able to hear my music in a new way, but I'm lost as how to get started. I bought a Sennheiser Momentum, but returned them for a Sennheiser IE 80 because I just couldn't notice enough of a difference in my audio quality for the price of the Momentums. I love how my IE 80s can handle my audio clearer at higher levels, but I haven't noticed much of a difference beyond that. The one headset that I noticed considerable difference in audio quality was my Sennheiser PXC 450 noise-cancelling headphones. Those were the first Sennheiser headphones I had ever bought and they were absolutely fantastic. I heard the different layers of songs and be left in complete awe when I wouldn't recognize a song because of how detailed and wonderful it sounded. Unfortunately, I noticed that I was sensitive to noise-cancelling technology. So much so that I eventually had to return the headphones because of how much pain they caused me.

I'm wanting that feeling again. I want to be able to hear the different layers of audio in a song, but I'm lost as where to start. I'm looking at a pair of Sennheiser HD 700 headphones and a sound card or a DAC, but I don't know which is better. Should I get a DAC or a sound card? I'm mostly only going to be using a DAC or a sound card for music purposes. As for the headphone, is it good for what I'm wanting or is there something better that you could recommend?

Sound Signature: Balanced, but I still want to be able to pick out the differences
Mobility: No preference
Budget: Preferably less than $500, but will go up to $700 for the headphones. The sound card or DAC, less than $400

 

[americanaudiophile]

I would suggest that a USB/DAC headphone amplifier would best upgrade. In your price range I would take a look at these
http/schiit.com/home
https/www.cambridgeaudio.com/products/hifi-and-home-cinema/dacmagic-plus
That way you will be sending a higher quality signal and amplifying it better to your current headphones.
I am partial to Grado headphones myself but without listening yourself it is impossible to know what would be your best option. You might post your question on www.headgfi.org